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Town Confirm Celina Loan Signing Monday, 3rd Jul 2017 17:05
Town have confirmed the signing of Manchester City winger Bersant Celina on a season-long loan deal.
The 20-year-old Kosovo international travelled to Ipswich yesterday to formalise his switch and to undergo a medical before flying out to Ireland with the rest of the squad for the traditional pre-season training camp at the Carton House Hotel this morning.
The remaining details relating to the deal were tied up by the clubs this afternoon.
Town beat the likes of Bolton, QPR and Leeds to land the highly-rated forward, whose previous season-long loan in Holland with FC Twente officially ended on Friday.
Celina is delighted that his switch has been confirmed and to have joined up with the Blues.
“I’m really pleased to be here and I’m looking forward to getting to know my new team-mates, the staff and everyone at the club,” he told the club site.
“Ipswich is a big club, has a big history and it’s a good place for me to be at this moment.
“I’ve had a break but now I can’t wait to get going - to train with the players and to put on the shirt and play for the team.
“I had a good loan spell in Holland last season. That helped me become a better player and hopefully it can be the same here. I’m looking forward to doing what I can to help the team.”
Prizren-born Celina, who is contracted to City until 2020, grew up in Norway from the age of two and was with Strømsgodset as schoolboy before joining Manchester City at 15.
Capped six times by Kosovo at full level, scoring once, he has made one Premier League sub appearance for City in addition to two starts and one game from the bench in the FA Cup.
Speaking at the first day of pre-season training last Monday, manager Mick McCarthy challenged Celina to emulate the success of previous loanees Ryan Fraser and Tom Lawrence.
“We’ve been looking for a replacement for Tom Lawrence," he said. "No pressure on him there, is there? Player of the year in every department.
“But Tom came in and I can’t remember everyone thinking that that was the best signing in the world.
“We’d had Ryan Fraser the year before and how good he was, but yet I never hear them mention Ryan. So I’m hoping that Bersant Celina can do that.
“He’s a similar type, right-footed, left winger, can play in behind the striker but I really want him to play in that wide left area, hopefully in a four and if necessary in a three.”
Photo: ITFC
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Seems, despite his choice of national team, that he's just as much Norwegian as he grew up there from the age of two. This usually means hard-working, reliable, modest, etc. If he has ability on top of that, then he could be an exciting loan. Velkommen!
Great news, could you imagine the smile if had signed for Leeds xD. Just need to resign Taylor (is a solid defender and will be good for the experience to help the youngsters) and a more prolific striker and we will be good
......... he's just been told that flair is a no no - obviously has plenty - But will he be allowed to use it ?
Will the Leopard change his spots ? - I wouldn't risk a pound on it. Or will be see a disillusioned player, sooner rather than later ? - now that could be a better wager.
Wish the lad well anyway - he may need as much of that as he can get.
See Bristol City, Barnsley and Millwall have all been linked with signing Donis Avdijaj up on a free transfer. Might answer our striker issue, and would link up well with Celina.
Its nice to know that premier league teams think that the second tier of English football is more competitive than the Dutch Eredivisie? Whatever the reason, I am pleased he is here. I just want to see him twine and meg John Terry at Villa Park...
For those who say and think that McCarthy will not allow him to play his normal, skillful, attacking game, we should just look at Lawrence, Fraser and even Williams when they came in on loan. All were brought in specifically to bring that kind of quality and all had goals in them. I see no reason to think it will be any different with Celina.
The comment from the story that grabbed my attention was " I really want him to play in that wide left area, hopefully in a four and if necessary in a three". so it does look as though MM is looking to primarily play a 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1 formation.
A great signing, but we need more players, a championship season is very long, although we've missed out on alloys Isgrove, I would love to see Michael kightly on a two year deal. Still need a big number 9, could see us ending up with bloody Yaya Sanogo on a free transfer haha.
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